Peterson was dressed in a blue jail jumpsuit Friday as Judge Edward Burmila was assigned to his case, the Chicago Tribune reports. Judge Stephen White, who had originally presided over the case, has retired since the long-delayed case began.

"He gets to get driven a block-and-a-half from the jail. He gets to enjoy his block-and-a-half trip in the back of the van," Brodsky told the station Thursday. "He’ll be happy just to see the process rolling again."

Last week, Peterson chose not to appeal an appellate court's recent decision to allow for prosecutors' hearsay evidence -- statements reportedly made by Savio before her death -- to be considered in his case. Essentially, Savio will be allowed to testify from beyond the grave.